Shloka 14
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
नापराधो<स्ति सुभगे नराणां बहुभार्यता । प्रमदानां भवत्येष मा ते5भूद बुद्धिरीदृशी
na aparādho 'sti subhage narāṇāṁ bahu-bhāryatā | pramadānāṁ bhavaty eṣa mā te 'bhūd buddhir īdṛśī ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Oh dama afortunada, no se considera falta que los hombres tengan muchas esposas. Pero en las mujeres, tal conducta—mantener trato con muchos hombres—se juzga ciertamente censurable y pecaminosa. Por eso, no dejes que tu mente se vuelva así (dura o extraviada)»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse articulates a normative social-ethical distinction: multiple wives for men is presented as socially non-culpable, whereas multiple male partners for women is framed as blameworthy; it concludes by urging the addressed woman to avoid a harsh or misguided mindset arising from this issue.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, reports a counsel addressed to a woman called “Subhagā,” explaining prevailing standards of marital conduct and advising her not to adopt an unwholesome or severe attitude in response.